Matt’s heart raced as he crouched behind a crumpled jockstrap, its musky scent overwhelming his tiny senses. The thrill of streaking through the locker room, a forbidden giant’s domain, sent shivers down his spine. His pint-sized body buzzed with excitement, but the distant sound of heavy footsteps outside snapped him out of his reverie. Panic surged—someone was coming. He scurried toward a pile of muddy socks, their coarse fibers offering a makeshift hiding spot. Wedging himself between the folds, he peeked out, his tiny eyes wide with anticipation.
The locker room door swung open with a groan, and in strode Coach Stevens. Matt’s breath caught. The coach wasn’t the grizzled veteran he’d imagined. Young, maybe early thirties, with a chubby but powerful build, Coach Stevens filled the space like a bear in a cave. His big belly strained against a tight polo shirt, his thick legs and meaty arms moving with surprising grace. His round face, clean-shaven and boyish, had an innocent charm, with warm brown eyes that scanned the room., just a mop of short, dark hair slightly damp from the day’s heat. He carried an air of authority, but his expression was more curious than stern as he began tidying up, muttering to himself.
“Kids these days, leaving this place like a pigsty,” Coach Stevens grumbled, his voice deep but soft, like distant thunder. He grabbed a pile of jerseys, tossing them into a laundry bin with a practiced flick of his wrist. His massive hands dwarfed the gear, making Matt feel even smaller.
Matt’s hiding spot felt precarious. His tiny heart pounded as he watched the coach move closer, stacking cleats and folding shorts. Then, disaster—Matt’s foot slipped on the slick tile, sending a pebble-sized piece of dirt skittering across the floor. Coach Stevens froze, his head tilting like a predator catching a scent. His eyes narrowed, locking onto the corner where Matt hid.
“What the…” Coach muttered, stepping closer. His massive sneakers thudded against the tiles, each step a tremor to Matt’s tiny frame. Matt tried to shrink deeper into the socks, but a shadow loomed as Coach’s hand reached down, brushing the pile aside. Matt tumbled out, exposed, sprawled on the cold floor like a bug under a spotlight.
Coach Stevens blinked, his jaw dropping. “What in the hell?” he said, crouching down. His face, now inches from Matt, was a mix of shock and confusion. His warm breath washed over Matt, smelling faintly of coffee. “You’re… a person? A tiny person?”
Matt scrambled to his feet, heart hammering. He was terrified, but the coach’s tone wasn’t angry—just bewildered. “I-I’m sorry!” Matt squeaked, his voice barely audible. “I didn’t mean to—uh, I just… got lost?”
Coach Stevens raised an eyebrow, his chubby cheeks puffing out as he exhaled. “Lost? Kid, you’re the size of a bottle cap. How’d you even get in here?” He reached down, his massive fingers surprisingly gentle as they scooped Matt up. Matt yelped, the world blurring as he was lifted high, cradled in the coach’s warm, calloused palm. “C’mon, this is too weird for the locker room.”
Without another word, Coach Stevens carried Matt out of the locker room, his strides long and purposeful. Matt clung to the coach’s thumb, torn between fear and fascination. The coach’s office was a small, cluttered space with a desk piled high with playbooks, a worn leather chair, and a single window letting in the late afternoon light. Coach shut the door with a soft click, the sound ominous to Matt’s ears.
Coach set Matt down on the desk, next to a coffee mug the size of a house. He sank into his chair, its springs creaking under his weight, and leaned forward, elbows on the desk. His brown eyes studied Matt like a puzzle he couldn’t solve. For a long moment, he just stared, his silence unnerving.
Matt squirmed, his tiny body prickling under the scrutiny. “Uh… you’re not gonna, like, squish me, are you?” he blurted, his voice trembling.
Coach chuckled, a low, warm sound. “Squish you? Nah, kid, I’m not that kinda guy. But I gotta know—what’s your deal? You a science experiment gone wrong or what?”
Matt hesitated, then spilled the truth, his words tumbling out. “It was an accident. Chemistry lab, shrinking serum, total disaster. I didn’t mean to end up like this, and I definitely didn’t plan on sneaking into the locker room, but… I just…” He trailed off, cheeks burning as he thought of Jack.
Coach leaned back, rubbing his chin. “Huh. That’s a new one. You got some guts, streaking in there at your size. Coulda been stepped on.” His tone was almost admiring, but his eyes stayed sharp. “So, what’s the plan, tiny? You can’t just wander around like a lost mouse.”
Matt swallowed hard. “I… I don’t know. I’m trying to figure out how to get back to normal.”
Coach nodded slowly, his expression softening. “Fair enough. But here’s the thing—you’re in my locker room, my turf. I can’t just pretend I didn’t see you.” He paused, his voice dropping. “You’re kinda… interesting, you know? Like a mascot or something.”
Matt’s stomach twisted. “Mascot?” he squeaked. “I’m not a pet!”
Coach raised his hands, palms out. “Easy, easy. I’m just sayin’, you’re in a tough spot. I gotta figure out what to do with you.” He leaned forward again, his voice low and serious. “I can’t let you go, not yet. You’re too… unique. So here’s the deal. You got options.”
Matt’s eyes widened. “Options?”
Coach nodded, his chubby face unreadable. “Option one: you stay with me. My personal… well, let’s call it assistant. I’d keep you safe, treat you better than anyone else would. Food, shelter, no getting squashed. Option two: you go with the team. They’d probably love a little mascot like you, but…” He grimaced. “I can’t control what those boys do. Some of ’em, like Jacob, ain’t exactly gentle. You’d be their toy, and I wouldn’t be able to stop ’em.”
Matt’s heart pounded. The idea of being Coach’s “assistant” made his skin crawl, but the thought of Jacob or the others getting their hands on him was worse. He opened his mouth, then closed it, unable to choose.
Coach leaned back, folding his arms over his big belly. “Take your time, kid. But you gotta pick. Me or the team.”
Matt stared up at the giant before him, his mind racing. The office felt smaller, the walls closing in. He didn’t know what to do, and for now, he couldn’t bring himself to decide.
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